Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 533 For Peace
Changan.

In the autumn, the Khans of various tribes came to Chang'an to pay tribute and arrived at Shanglin Temple.

Unlike previous years, this time, the people gathered at Shanglin Temple were not only the Khans of various grassland tribes and their sons, but also surrendered officials from Goguryeo, as well as envoys from Buyeo, Baekje, Silla, Gaochang, Tuyuhun, Kucha, Yanqi and other countries.

The crowd was bustling about, each with their own purpose.

After losing Liaodong, Goguryeo fell into internal strife. King Anwon, Go Bo-yeon, became an enemy of the surrounding countries. However, Goguryeo's military strength was still quite strong, and the surrounding countries not only could not defeat Goguryeo, but were also attacked.

King Go Bo-yeon of Anwon pacified the two powerful maternal relatives within the kingdom, granting the position of Dae-ro to the eastern Dae-ga, thus strengthening his influence in the east. Simultaneously, Go Bo-yeon consolidated the Goguryeo army, defending against Baekje while improving diplomatic relations with Silla, courting the Khitan and Mohe, and initiating a military campaign against the southern Dae-ga.

Gao Baoyan's series of measures stabilized the situation in Goguryeo after the war, making the situation both inside and outside Goguryeo favorable to Pyongyang.

In the south, Daegu was at a disadvantage under the offensive of the Goguryeo capital army and the eastern army, losing cities and territories; the Goguryeo northern army, which was originally scattered in Changbai Mountain, was also willing to pledge allegiance to Pyongyang rather than the city of Konkok.

While Baekje was determined to reclaim Seoul, which had been taken by Goguryeo, the ambiguous attitude of Silla, which was sometimes friendly and sometimes hostile, made it difficult to defeat Goguryeo and deal with Silla, which could turn into an enemy at any time, even with the help of Japan. The Khitan and Mohe were quite hostile to the newly established Buyeo Kingdom, and preferred the distant Goguryeo to the nearby Buyeo Kingdom.

Envoys from the northeastern kingdoms arrived in Chang'an, hoping to inquire about the latest developments and curry favor with the emperor.

The various kingdoms of the Western Regions came here with the same purpose.

The situation in the Western Regions changed more dramatically than in the Northeast. The Goguryeo Empire, the dominant power in the Northeast, was weak but still existed, while the Hephthalite Empire, the dominant power in the Western Regions, had declined, but the Rouran had not yet arrived.

This power vacuum during this period made the kingdoms of the Western Regions quite uneasy, fearing that making the wrong choice would lead to repercussions.

The Western Regions are divided by the Tianshan Mountains, with nomadic areas to the north and agricultural areas based on oasis economies to the south.

When Anagui led his westward expedition, he occupied the area north of the Tianshan Mountains, but instead of moving south, he gathered many nomadic tribes near the Jinshan Mountains and fought a decisive battle against the Hephthalites.

Now that Anagui has defeated the 100,000 Hephthalite cavalry, once he has eliminated the various Hephthalite tribes, occupied Sogdiana, Tokharistan, and other places, and absorbed the former Hephthalite territory, he will surely cross the Pamir Mountains, submit to the Western Regions south of the Tian Shan Mountains, and control the two trade routes from north to south.

The kingdoms of the Western Regions did not have much objection to this.

After all, they were like this when the Xiongnu were in power, they were like this when the Xianbei were in power, and they were the same when the Hephthalites came.

But the Rouran are different. All the kingdoms of the Western Regions have heard that their ruler came to the Western Regions only after being defeated in the southern Gobi Desert. If he were to enter the area south of the Tianshan Mountains, wouldn't he clash with the Longyou army, making it impossible for everyone to do business?
Now that the Northern Dynasties are stable and the Bashu region is under their control, the Shu brocade produced in Chengdu is gathered in the West Market of Chang'an, becoming a highly sought-after commodity that foreign merchants cannot obtain even at exorbitant prices. In addition, emerging commodities such as tea and white porcelain are also increasingly favored by foreign merchants, with purchases increasing year by year.

Even items such as sable fur, wild ginseng, and pearls, which Sogdian merchants used to have to travel thousands of miles to the Northeast to purchase, can now be found in the East Market of Chang'an.

Transporting goods such as silk and tea from Chang'an to the Western Regions for sale could yield huge profits, driving merchants from thousands of miles away to Guanzhong. However, once a war breaks out between the Rouran and the Longyou army, the trade routes will definitely be affected or even interrupted, and the merchants, the Western Regions countries, and even Tuyuhun will suffer huge losses.

The same goes for Chang'an!
The kingdoms of the Western Regions were deeply worried about this.

They are not afraid of a powerful force controlling the Western Regions, but they are afraid of a prolonged war between two powerful forces vying for control of the Western Regions.

"Envoys, please do not worry. I am a sworn brother of the Rouran ruler. We have only had a minor disagreement, and I have no intention of competing with him. I have already written a letter to the Rouran ruler expressing my desire for friendly relations, and the Rouran ruler has no objection. When you return to your countries, please convey my words to the kings of the Western Regions so that they can trade with peace of mind."

Hearing Li Shuang's assurance, the envoys from the Western Regions were finally somewhat relieved.

If the army from Longyou does not leave Dunhuang, then even if the Rouran come, the Western Regions will not be drawn into battle.

After dismissing the envoys from the various kingdoms of the Western Regions, Li Shuang returned to his throne.

Beside him stood Huli Jin and Shedi Gan. Shedi Gan endured for a long time, waiting until they had left before speaking:
"Your Majesty, these people are really too ungrateful."

Li Shuang didn't care about this.

"In their view, the Western Rouran could come east at any time, while the Longyou army could not undertake long-distance expeditions, so they were naturally more afraid of Anagui."

Huli Jin listened in silence, lost in thought.

She Digan did not immediately understand the meaning behind Li Shuang's words.

Li Shuang looked at the two of them and said:

"You two have stayed in Hengshuo Prefecture for so many years, it's time for you to return to Chang'an."

Upon hearing this, both Huli Jin, who was deep in thought, and She Digan, who hadn't reacted yet, looked at Li Shuang.

Today, the Hu tribes south of Yinshan are mainly divided into five parts: the Five Hu Tribes, the Hulu Tribe, the Kudi Tribe, the various tribes of Hexi, and the various tribes of Longyou.

The Huli and Shedi tribes, residing in Shuozhou and Hengzhou, have grown stronger over the years. Although the tribes that joined them were once split into the Five Hu tribes, their overall strength remains very strong.

Today, the Huli and Shedi tribes not only include their original tribesmen, but also the surrounding Tiele, Khitan, Xi and other tribes, commanding tens of thousands of archers.

Li Shuang's decision to send them back to Chang'an implies that he intends to take action against the two departments.

Hulü Jin immediately cupped his hands and said:

"Whatever Your Majesty commands, I will obey without hesitation!"

Hearing this, Shedi Gan, who was a beat slower, also realized what was happening and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Your Majesty, I have long since had no desire to remain in Pingcheng. Thank you!"

Li Shuang nodded upon hearing this and said:
"I hereby confer upon Alu Dun the titles of Prince of Wuyuan, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Governor of Shuozhou, and General of the Dragon Soaring Army, and grant him a residence befitting a first-rank official; and upon Qianqiu the titles of Prince of Shanwu, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Governor of Yanzhou, and General of the Tiger Might Army, and grant him a residence befitting a first-rank official!"

"Your Majesty, we are deeply grateful for your great kindness!"

……

As Huli Jin and Shedi Gan walked away, Li Shuang watched their retreating figures with a smile on his face.

Just then, Zu Ting walked over, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, news has arrived from Dunhuang that the number of Hephthalites gathering outside the two passes is increasing."

Li Shuang didn't seem to care, and casually said:
"Once we get the first one, more and more people will naturally come!"

"Then what should we do?"

“Disperse their tribes and select the strongest, wisest men to employ.”

Upon hearing this, Zu Ting understood that his king's ambition lay in the Western Regions.

……

(End of this chapter)